This week in the war, the German military on the Eastern Front were anticipating the spring thaw. They hoped that the muddy conditions would cause a slowdown in the Soviet attacks. However, Stalin was determined to remain on the offensive and, in particular, to liberate the remainder of the Ukraine.

However, the struggle for an independent (i.e. self-governing) Ukraine was being fought by Ukrainian partisans, who were fighting the Soviet forces. The partisans had begun fighting the Germans, too, since, despite some early German support, it had become clear that Hitler had no interest in an independent Ukraine.